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F16CrewChief β Tagboard at AMARC
Published: 2013-07-08 00:48:24 +0000 UTC; Views: 893; Favourites: 22; Downloads: 12
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Description
GTD-21B-LO, 003 seen in AMARC in March 1993.For decades a large area of MASDC/ AMARC was 'off limits' to photographers since a row of these aircraft were stored in the facility. It is kind of ironic that there is now one of these parked at 'Celebrity Row' on the main entrance to AMARC!
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Comments: 45
It was a hypersonic unmanned recce platform that flewΒ severalΒ missions over China. It originally was launched on the back of an M-21 Blackbird. AfterΒ a fatal collision between the D-21 and the M-21 during launch; the unit was launched from a B-52H.
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So this was that little plane that piggybacked on the M-21?
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Yessir. It was not so little as seen in this photo of a Senior Bowl B-52H airrefuelingarchive.files.wordβ¦
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Whoah! Its nearly as big as the B-52's own engines!Β
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They had to incorporate a rocket engine to get the D-21 up to a speed that the ramjet could operate after the M-21 crash.
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Learn by mistakes I suppose.Β
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No, the slow B-52 could not go fast enough to get the engine to run. Β It needed the acceleration and speed of the rocket booster to light the ramjet.
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Ramjets need sufficient forward thrust to start, which I believe the rocket booster is there for.Β
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Read that Skunkworks Β blamed Β U S Air Force for for failed China missions due to the fact that they disassemble the D-21 up to eight times during the big wait.Β
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Yessir.Β I have read Ben Rich's book.
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Don't call me sir--I worked for a living----Old Gunners Mate---1965--69--Like you gallery Chief
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Thanks!Β Nice to meet another veteran on DA!
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It was!Β I remember seeing about 13-15 of these things back when they were still 'classified'.
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Did you maintain these?
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i worked on support aircraft for several tests using these fascinating little birds.
even with doubled ear protection, my ears still ring from the engine after forty years.
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That is cool!Β Were you at Beale?
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no, stationed at hill, worked out of utah test & training range and edwards. '77 til '82.
i had my name on a dc-130a, two c-130e's, and a hc130h(h) starcatcher (a corona satellite retriever).
until they converted over to the 130j's, the hurricane hunters at keesler afb flew the sister birds to my hh
65-0970 and 65-0972.
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Interesting!Β I have a few shots of the 'Catch a falling Star' Herks in my collection.Β Thanks!
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ha that f-4 in the back thought it was sneaking but i can still see her!
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Yeah it was a Nebraska Guard RF-4C.
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thats cool dont know if you know but she still flies in service in germany and a few other countries 60 year mature lady XD. and know other aircraft will top her flight hours
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I thing Germany just retired their Phantoms this month...
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They have been in service a long time!
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oh yes and flight hours oh the flight hours
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Thanks!Β Glad you enjoyed them!
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There were 13 or so stored at MASDC when the program ended.
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It was a hypersonic recce platform that flew sevaeral missions over China. It originally was launched on the bac k of an M-21 Blackbird. After a fatal collision between the D-21 and the M-21 during launch; the unit was launched from a B-52H.
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Haha, thanks, I kept looking for post it notes! LOL
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